Chester Jets
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| Chester Jets | |
 |
|
| League | British Basketball League |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Team History | Ellesmere Port Jets 1984-1988 Cheshire Jets 1988-1993 Chester Jets 1993-present |
| Arena | Northgate Arena |
| City | Chester, Cheshire |
| Team Colours | Black, White, Red |
| Ownership | Mike Burton |
| Head Coach |  Billy Singleton |
The TCS Chester Jets are a British basketball team based in Chester. Their home court is the Northgate Arena. They play in the British Basketball League.
Contents |
[edit] Franchise history
[edit] Origin
The team was first formed from the ruins of the Ellesmere Port team, the St Saviours in 1984. The team was initially named after their sponsors 'Motocraft Centre Ellesmere Port'. However, after the loss of their sponsor, they renamed themselves Ellesmere Port Jets.
[edit] Moving to the BBL
The Jets were admitted to NBL Division 2 in 1986 and showed little sign of what was to come as they finished last in their first season, with just a single victory. Edging up to seventh in 1987-88, they then changed their name to Cheshire Jets, though still continuing to play in Ellesmere Port. They continued a steady mid-table development until, in 1991, they won the divisional title despite suffering five defeats. The same year, the Jets moved up into the BBL joining in with Britain's elite basketball teams. Later however, the arena in Ellesmere Port became unsuitable, and so in 1993 the Jets were forced to move to Chester, and into the Northgate Arena. The move was reflected in another name change to what is now the Chester Jets.
The real turning point for the Jets came in 1996, when the application of the Bosman ruling to basketball resulted in the departure of many of the top English players to European clubs, and the BBL changed its eligibility rule to entitle teams to use five non-national players.
[edit] Millennium success
Astute trans-Atlantic recruitment by coach and co-owner Mike Burton resulted in a highly competitive team, which finished fifth in the League table in 1997. They have remained highly competitive ever since, with best-ever performances in 2002 (Northern Conference Champions) and 2003 (3rd in the re-unified League), and a string of successes in the BBL trophy (4-times winners, from 2001 to 2004), culminating in the League Championship in 2005.
[edit] Home arenas
- Ellesmere Port Leisure Centre (1984-1993)
- Northgate Arena (1993-present)
[edit] Season-by-season records
| Season | Div. | Pos. | Pld. | W | L | Pts. | Play Offs | Trophy | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986-1987 | NBL 2 | 10th | 18 | 1 | 17 | 2 | DNQ | DNQ | 1st Round |
| 1987-1988 | NBL 1 | 7th | 18 | 7 | 11 | 14 | DNQ | DNQ | 2nd Round |
| 1988-1989 | NBL 1 | 8th | 20 | 6 | 14 | 12 | DNQ | DNQ | 2nd Round |
| 1989-1990 | NBL 1 | 6th | 22 | 10 | 12 | 20 | Quarter-final | DNQ | 1st Round |
| 1990-1991 | NBL 1 | 1st | 22 | 17 | 5 | 34 | Quarter-final | DNQ | Quarter-final |
| 1991-1992 | BBL | 11th | 30 | 2 | 28 | 4 | DNQ | 1st Round | 3rd Round |
| 1992-1993 | BBL | 10th | 33 | 10 | 23 | 20 | DNQ | 1st Round | Quarter-final |
| 1993-1994 | BBL | 11th | 36 | 11 | 25 | 22 | DNQ | 1st Round | Quarter-final |
| 1994-1995 | BBL | 12th | 36 | 6 | 30 | 12 | DNQ | 1st Round | Quarter-final |
| 1995-1996 | BBL | 12th | 36 | 8 | 28 | 16 | DNQ | Quarter-final | 4th Round |
| 1996-1997 | BBL | 5th | 36 | 24 | 12 | 48 | Semi-final | Runner-up | 4th Round |
| 1997-1998 | BBL | 10th | 36 | 15 | 21 | 30 | DNQ | 1st Round | 4th Round |
| 1998-1999 | BBL | 11th | 36 | 10 | 26 | 20 | DNQ | Quarter-final | Quarter-final |
| 1999-2000 | BBL | 4th | 36 | 17 | 19 | 34 | Quarter-final | Quarter-final | 1st Round |
| 2000-2001 | BBL | 2nd | 36 | 25 | 11 | 50 | Quarter-final | Winner | 1st Round |
| 2001-2002 | BBL | 1st | 32 | 24 | 8 | 48 | Winner | Winner | Winner |
| 2002-2003 | BBL | 3rd | 40 | 28 | 12 | 56 | Quarter-final | Winner | Runner-up |
| 2003-2004 | BBL | 5th | 36 | 22 | 14 | 44 | Runner-up | Winner | 1st Round |
| 2004-2005 | BBL | 1st | 40 | 32 | 8 | 64 | Runner-up | Semi-final | Semi-final |
| 2005-2006 | BBL | 7th | 40 | 17 | 32 | 34 | Quarter-final | 1st Round | Semi-final |
[edit] Trophies
[edit] League
- NBL Division One Winners: 1990/91 1
- BBL Championship Winners: 2001/02, & 2004/05 2
- BBL Championship Runners Up: 2000/01 1
[edit] Playoffs
- BBL Championship Play Off Winners: 2001/02 1
- BBL Championship Play Off Runners Up: 2003/04, & 2004/05 2
[edit] Trophy
- BBL Trophy Winners: 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04 4
- BBL Trophy Runners Up: 1996/97 1
[edit] Cup
- National Cup Winners: 2001/02 1
- National Cup Runners Up: 2000/01 1
[edit] Current roster
The numbers are established according to the official websites of the team (www.jetsbasketball.co.uk) and Britain's top professional league, the BBL (www.bbl.org.uk).
As of December 9, 2006
| 5 | |
Billy Singleton | Centre |
| 8 | |
Jazwyn Cowen | Forward |
| 10 |  |
John Simpson | Guard |
| 12 | |
Alto Virgil | Guard |
| 14 | |
Richard Murphy | Guard |
| 15 |  |
Telford M'Finda | Guard/Forward |
| 21 | |
James Hamilton | Forward |
| 22 |  |
Marco Fernandes | Forward/Centre |
| -- | |
Malcolm Leak | Forward |
[edit] Squad changes during 2006/07 season
In:
- Jazwyn Cowen - Signed From Nebraska Cranes
- Alto Virgil - Signed From Vancouver Volcanoes
- Taylor M'Finda - Signed From Stade Rodez Aveyron
- Terrence Robinson - Signed From MTSV Schwabing
- Malcolm Leak - Signed From Horsholm Basket
Out:
- Damon Bailey - Transferred To Thor Thorl
Shawn Myers - Transferred To Leicester Riders- Terrence Robinson - Transferred To Released
- Maurice Hargrow - Transferred To Minnesota Ripkness
[edit] Notable former players
Pero Cameron- Todd Cauthorn
- Correy Childs
- Kenny Gregory
- Delme Herriman
- John McCord
- Trey Moore
- Shawn Myers
- Tony Rampton
